Cushion-tip for the keys of type-writers and like machines.



, m ELH. GEMMILL.

CUSHION TIP FOR THE KEYS OF TYPE WRITERS AND LIKE MACHINES.

H APPLICATION FILED JAN. 4. 1915.

1., 1 89,09 1 Patented June 27, I916 amvewfoz UNITED STATES raj;

ELLIS H. GEMMILL, OF AKRON, OHIO, ASSIGNOB TO THOR? & MARTIN TYPEWRITER COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

CUSHION-TIP FOR THE KEYS OF TYPE-WRITERS AND LIKE MACHINES.

- Application fi1ed. .'fannary 4, 1915. Serial No. 427.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, ELLIs H. GEMMILL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Akron, in the county of Summit and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cushion-Tips for the Keys of Type-Vriters and like Machines, of which the following is aspecifieation.

The present invention relates to a cushion cap for the keys of typewriters and like machines, and has for its object to provide a. device of this character which will act in an effective manner to absorb any shock incident to the sudden striking of the key by the finger, and which embodies novel features of construction whereby the letter or character of the particular key is applied to the cushion in such a manner that it will I neither wear off nor become soiled by continued use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cushion cap of this character which is comparatively simple and inexpensive in its construction, which can be easily and firmly applied to the ke of a typewriter or like machine without the use of any special tools and without the necessity of taking down or altering the keys, which does not render the keys clumsy and awkward to manipulate, and which has the designating character applied thereto in such a manner that it can be readily removed and applied to a new body portion if desired, and will not become soiled or worn by use \Vith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novelcombinations and arrangements of the parts as will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the novel features thereof being pointed out in the appended claims.

For a full understanding of the lnvention,

reference is to he had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in

which Figure 1 is a top plan view of a cushion cap for typewriter keys constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig-2 is a vertical sectional View through the same. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the cushion cap showing the same as applied to'a typewriter key. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view through the cap and the head of the type-' writer key to which it'is applied. Fig. 5

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 2?, 191%.

is a side elevation showing a slight modification in which a dlfierent form of retaming ring is employed for securing the hollow resilient cap member to the type- -to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawing by the same reference characters.

One embodiment of the invention is shown by Figs. 1 to alof the drawing, in which the character A designates the hollow cap member which is formed of rubber or similar material and fits upon the top of the typewriter key, while B designates the retaining ring which serves to hold the hollow cap member in proper position upon the key. The hollow resilient cap member A is formed with a substantially flat top 1 and annular depending side walls2 which inclo'se an air chamber 3; Resting upon the upper surface of the substantially flat top 1 of the hollow cap Ais a disk d of celluloid or like material upon which the character 5 of the particular key or the typewriter to which the cap is applied is printed. An annular retaining flange 6 which is integral with the hollow cap A. and carries an inwardly projecting lip 7 projects upwardly from the periphery of the top 1 so as to engage the edges of the disk 4 and hold the same securely in position, the lip 7 over-' hanging the said edges of the disk, as indi cated more clearly by Figs. 2 and 4. Qwin to the fact that the cap member A is forme of some resilient material such as rubber, it will be understood that the retaining flange may be readily stretched and bent outwardly the fingers a suflieient amount to admit of the letter carrying disk l being placed in position or removed therefrom. The letter carrying disks 4: upon the various hollow cap members A are thus inter changeable and any letter or character can be readily applied to any of the hollow rubber caps. 'Furtherm6r'e',' the disks 4: can be made of celluloid or similar material so that the letters or characters printed thereon will not become soiled or ,worn' dfi by con tinued use. In this connection it may be mentioned thatthe letters or characters 51.

instead of being printed upon the upper or exposed surface of the celluloid disk 4 are preferably either printed upon the lower face of the celluloid or upon a baclnn 4 applied to the lower face of the cellu 01d disk. so that the printed acharacters are clearly visible through the celluloid although the actual printing or lettering at ried by the celluloid disk and protected flared downwardly side gthereof.

oi the typewriter key at one side thereof,

thereby so that it can neither soil nor pick off, and the hollow cushion cap A is formed with thick walls so that it will be very du rable and will not wear out with any ordinary amount of use.

The retaining ring B which is employed for holding the hollow rubber cap A in proper position upon the typewriter may be formed of metal and is shown as provided at the upper edge thereof With an inturned. flange 8 which fits within an annular groove 9 formed in the sidewalls 2 of the can A at a point toward the lower end of the cap. This annular groove 9 has width somewhat greater than the width of the inturned flange 8 so that the said flange will not interfere iii-any manner with the compression of the cushion cap when it is struck by the fingers of the operator. The sides 10 of the retaining ring B may be shown and the said ring: may have a polygonal formation, such as is clearly indicated by Figs. 1 and 3V The lower end of the retaining ring B projects belowthe'hottom of the hollow cap A so as to fit around and receive the head of the typewriter key Any suitable means may be employed for producing an interlocking; connection between the retaining ring B and the head of the typewriter key, and in the present instance the lower edge of the retaininp ring B is shown as having an indented or reiintrant portion 1]. at one This extends under the head as indicated by Fig. it. so as to hold the cushion cap against accidental displacement, although by tilting the cushion cap at an angle to the head of the typewriter key it will be obvious that the retaining ringi B can be easily removed therefrom or applied thereto. lhc lower edge or bottom of the hollow rubber cap A may be formed with an inwardly oll'sct and downwardly prokey (1 jecting annular flange 12 which clears the rim 13 at the'top of tho typewriter key and rests upon the flat central surface 14. of the typewriter key so as to seal the air chamber 3 and confine the air therein so' that it co-' operates with the resiliency of the rubber to increase the shock absorbing properties of the device. The exterior diameter of the hollow rubber cap A is substantially the same as the diameter ofthe head of the typewriter key, and the flange 12 is merely offset inwardly a sullicient amount to clear the rim 13 of the key.

A slight modification is shown by Fig. 5, in which the hollow rubber cap A is idem ticul. in construction with that shown by the remaining figures of the drawings and heretot'orc described in detail. The retaining ring B, however, has a slightly ditlereut construction. being cou'iparativcly narrow and formed with :1 scries of downwardly projecting yu'ougs 15 adapted to have the cxtremities thereof bent under the head of the typewriter key. as indicated at 15. The upper end of the retaining ring B is secured to the hollow rubber cap A by means of a flange 8. exactly as previously described, although the prongs 15 are substituted for the skirted forumtiou of the rctaining ring.

lVben the cushion caps are applied to the typewriter keys, it will be obvious that the natural resiliency of the soft rubber or like material of which the cup A is formed will serve, as a cushion to absorb any suddcn shocks duc to striking the kcy with the fingers. This cushioning quality of the cap will be increased by reason of the fact that the cap is hollow and the walls thereof will be distorted to a ccrtuin cxtcut when the cap is struck by the fingers. and also by the fact that the air within the interior space 3 is confined in such a manner as to be slightly con'iprcsscd when the cap is distorted and the top thereof bent lown-. wardly. This cushioning action will not only prevent the finger tips of the operator from becoming sore when manipulating the kcyluun'd of a typcwritcr, but will also tend "to prolong the life of the machine and rcduce the wear upon the mechanical parts tlu-rcol by eliminating or reducing the sud,- dcu shocks upon the part Should any one of the hollow rubber caps become worn so that it may be dcsircd to replace the same, it is not ncc iy to buy an entirely new set of the cushion caps in order to get a cap ha ring the same particular letter or character printed thereon, since the disk fl of celluloid can be readily rcmovcd from the old rubber cap and applied to a new rubber cap. As previously stated. the characters or letters upon the celluloid disks 4 are protected by the celluloid so that they can oil or wear out.

therewith.

A modification is shown by Fig. 6 in which a different means is utilized for securing the letter carrying disk 4 to the top of the cap. As shown by this Fig, 6 the letter carrying dish 2 engaged by the inturned upper edge of a retaining ring 16 which extends around the upper edge of the cap A and has an interlocking connection This interlocking connection may be brought about in anysuitable manner, although in the present instance the lower edge 01" the retaining ring 16 is shown as bent inwardly so as to engage an annular groove 17 in the side the cap A. This modified construction of the cap is designed to be applied to the key of a typewriter or other similar machine inthe same manner as the forms of the invention previously illustrated and will operate in an identical manner to absorb the shocks and jars so as to reduce the wear upon the machine and prevent the fingers the operator from becoming sore.

Having thus described the invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is 1 1. A cushion cap font-he keys of typewriters and like machines, including a hollow cap formed of elastic material and having an open base and a closed top, the said cap being of substantially the same size and shape as the typewriter key and having a flat top surrounded by an integral disk retaining flange, an interchangeable letter carrying disk fitted ren'ioval'ily against the flat top of the cap and held in position by the elastic retaining flange, and means for fastening the base of the cap to the typewriter key.

2. A cushion cap for the keys of typewriters and like machines, including a hollow cap of elastic material formed With an open bottom and a closed top, the cap being of substantially the same size as the key to which it is to be applied and having an annular groove in the sides thereof, While the open end thereof terminates in an inwardly offset annular flange adapted to engage the flat top of the key within the confines of the rim thereof, and a retaining ring adapted to fit over and engage the key, the upper end of the ,retaining ring being formed with an inturned flange received within the before mentioned groove in the side of the cap.

A cushion cap for the lteys of typewriters and like machines, including a hollow cap formed of elastic material and having an open bottom and a closed top, the upper surface of the top being substantially flat and surrounded by an integral disk retaining flange, and the sides of the cap be-,

ing formed with an annular groove, While the open lower end of the cap terminates in an inwardly oflset' annular flange adapted to. engage the flat top of a key within the confines of the rim thereof, a letter carrying disk fitted removably against the fiat top of the cap and adjustably held in position thereon by the before mentioned elastic flange, and a retaining ring adapted to fit over and engage the key, the upperend of the retaining ring being provided with an inturned flange which is received Within the annular groove in the side of the cap.

In testimony whereof I affix nry signature in presence of two witnesses.

Erin's H. GEMMILL. 

